Wine Review of 2014 Cave des Vignerons de Tutiac Merlot Lieu-Dit Au Pin, Blaye Cote de Bordeaux red wine, France
Score: 90/100 Points
This red Bordeaux wine by the Tutiac cooperative winery in the Blaye area of the Northern Bordeaux region, is made from 100% Merlot grapes, selected from some of the best vineyards owned by the vignerons.
After fermentation and a long maceration on skins (for about 30 days), the wine was transferred into 100% new French oak barrels for 15 months of ageing.
It comes under the Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux appellation at around 12.5% alcohol by volume content (abv).
Overall Wine Review & Tasting Impressions
A very pleasant and enjoyable Bordeaux wine, providing a very classic expression of Bordeaux, a sweet/savory sensation of red berry fruit combined with grilled meat tones, oak and spices.
In fact, sipping this Blaye Merlot, you get the impression you’re enjoying and tasting a more prestigious-sounding Saint-Emilion wine.
Featuring some ageing and evolution characters, it yet displays the freshness and vibrancy of bright fruit, and the silkiness we enjoy in a good Merlot wine.
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Full Tasting Notes
This Bordeaux Merlot comes in a rather dark red color, looking nearly black to the core. Not looking super dense or concentrated, but with a lovely dark red color, an appealing black/red color.
The nose smells savory and meaty as well as lively and fruity.
The classic and typical dark cherry notes we like to find in a good Merlot wine, come coated in a savory, roasted meat-like, and yeasty aromas somewhat like roasted chicken and/or marmite.
Some black pepper with herbal touches of thyme and rosemary, make for a tempting, ripe, and fruity yet spicy and rather deep a nose.
A classic slightly aged Bordeaux wine aromatic profile. Enjoyable and intriguing to smell, with layers of complexity and depth!
The palate follows suit, dry and savory, featuring a lusciously-soft velvety tannic texture, an oily body that delivers juiciness from a salty acidity, as well as richness from powerful ripe black cherry flavors.
The rather long and layered finish offers plenty of sweet spices, cherry liqueur and mixed berries, with well-integrated touches of oaky vanilla and caramel.
Enjoy 🙂
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